# Pi-hole Version 6 Compatibility with Raspberry Pi 3

**URL:** <https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [March 3, 2025, 10:21am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391 "2025-03-03T10:21:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pi\_user5000](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@pi\_user5000](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/pi_user5000)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 10:21am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/1 "2025-03-03T10:21:51Z")

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Dear Community,  
I am reaching out to inquire about the compatibility of Pi-hole version 6 with the Raspberry Pi 3. I have been using Pi-hole for quite some time, and it has worked flawlessly until the recent update. Since then, my Raspberry Pi 3 has become unresponsive.

It seems like many other users are experiencing similar problems with version 6 on the Raspberry Pi 3.

1. In general, is the Raspberry Pi 3 still able to run and host the latest version 6 of Pi-hole?

2. Is it advisable to upgrade to a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 for better performance and more RAM?

3. Additionally, would it be better to perform a fresh install on the Raspberry Pi 3, or is it possible to downgrade back to version 5 if I decide to stick with it?

4. Does it makes sense to try "sudo pihole -r " (Reconfigure or Repair Pi-hole subsystems)

## Debug Token:

[https://tricorder.pi-hole.net/7mq9BWus/](https://tricorder.pi-hole.net/7mq9BWus/)

Here the error message while updating pi-hole:

> [i] Building tree...  
> [✗] Unable to build gravity tree in /etc/pihole/gravity.db\_temp
> 
> [i] If you have a large amount of domains, make sure your Pi-hole has enough RAM available
> 
> Error: stepping, database disk image is malformed (11)

1. Would this command solve the problem?

```auto
sudo pihole checkout core tweak/sqlite_temp_store

```

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Best regards,  
Bruno

---

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**Author:** ![Bucking\_Horn](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/bucking_horn/32/18719_2.png) [@Bucking\_Horn](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/Bucking_Horn)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/2 "2025-03-04T15:21:56Z")

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> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> 1. In general, is the Raspberry Pi 3 still able to run and host the latest version 6 of Pi-hole?

Yes.

> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> 1. Is it advisable to upgrade to a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 for better performance and more RAM?

No.

> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> 1. Additionally, would it be better to perform a fresh install on the Raspberry Pi 3, or is it possible to downgrade back to version 5 if I decide to stick with it?

No, and yes, easiest via Docker.

> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> 1. Does it makes sense to try "sudo pihole -r " (Reconfigure or Repair Pi-hole subsystems)

Perhaps, if something is broken that the repair script is intended to fix.

> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> 1. Would this command solve the problem?

Likely not, as that has been merged into development already.

But you have a huge gravity database, weighing over 600M, and your long term database size of ~500M would have kept your RPi 3 quite busy during the upgrade's database conversion.

Since you observe a malformed error, please check your database intergrity and share the results of:

```auto
sudo pihole-FTL sqlite3 /etc/pihole/pihole-FTL.db "PRAGMA integrity_check"

```

```auto
sudo pihole-FTL sqlite3 /etc/pihole/gravity.db "PRAGMA integrity_check"

```

Given the size of your databases, this may take a rather long time to complete, may well be several minutes.

Your debug log shows that your **`webserver.threads`** are set to 0 (default), to have the webserver determine a thread count value.  
We've received reports that explicitly setting that value has improved web UI responsiveness.

Please try to change that, e.g. to 6

```auto
sudo pihole-FTL --config webserver.threads 6

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rdwebdesign](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/rdwebdesign/32/51363_2.png) [@rdwebdesign](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/rdwebdesign)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/3 "2025-03-05T01:42:19Z")

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> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> In general, is the Raspberry Pi 3 still able to run and host the latest version 6 of Pi-hole?

Yes.

I run one Pi-hole at home in a Raspberry Pi 3B+ (in a docker container), without issues.

---

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**Author:** ![pi\_user5000](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@pi\_user5000](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/pi_user5000)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 9:32am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/4 "2025-03-05T09:32:11Z")

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Hello Bucking\_Horn!

Thank you very much for your detailed response and for answering every single question in such an efficient way. I appreciate it!

```auto
sudo pihole-FTL sqlite3 /etc/pihole/pihole-FTL.db "PRAGMA integrity_check"
sudo pihole-FTL sqlite3 /etc/pihole/gravity.db "PRAGMA integrity_check"

```

1. 

Both checks returned **`OK`** just a few seconds later. It took not very much time—less than 10 seconds for sure, maybe even less than that.

1. 

I also changed **`webserver.threads`** to 6, as you advised.

After that, I made an update since new updates have been available since today.

I will provide an update after I check the new configuration during the day.

1. 

Maybe a stupid question, but anyway, why is it recommended to run Pi-hole in a Docker container?  
From my perspective, I would prefer to keep it as simple and lightweight as possible. Doesn’t Docker add another layer of complication to a simple setup like Pi-hole on a very lightweight Raspberry Pi?  
I just want to gain a better understanding of your advice.

**PS:** Right now, the Pi-hole is updating the gravity.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bucking\_Horn](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/bucking_horn/32/18719_2.png) [@Bucking\_Horn](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/Bucking_Horn)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/5 "2025-03-05T10:10:10Z")

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> [@Bucking\_Horn](#):
>
> > [@pi\_user5000](#):
> >
> > 1. (…) is it possible to downgrade back to version 5 if I decide to stick with it?
> 
> (…) yes, easiest via Docker.

> [@pi\_user5000](#):
>
> Maybe a stupid question, but anyway, why is it recommended to run Pi-hole in a Docker container?

You are misreading my answer.  
There is no general recommendation to run Pi-hole in Docker of bare metal.  
Installing a previous version is just easier with Docker, as you just need to pull the respective image, e.g. `docker pull pihole/pihole:2024.07.0` for the last v5 one.

Installing a previous Pi-hole version via CLI would require to manually pull specific component versions and to manual change the installation script used.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pi\_user5000](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@pi\_user5000](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/pi_user5000)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/6 "2025-03-06T14:48:19Z")

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Hello Bucking\_Horn!

I apologize for my misreading of your comment. I was not attentive enough.  
Mea culpa! 🙂

Thank you very much for your clarification.

### Quick Update on My Pi-hole

I wanted to share a short update on my Pi-hole setup based on your advice:

1. **Changed `webserver.threads` to 6** : Following your suggestion, I adjusted the `webserver.threads` setting to 6. This change has made a noticeable difference!

2. **Running `pihole -f`** : I also executed the command `pihole -f` to flush the DNS query logs.

3. **Successful Tree Building** : After implementing these two steps, I was finally able to complete the tree building process after updating the gravity. This is a significant milestone for me, as I had been struggling with this issue since the last update, and it always seemed to fail before.

I think everything is running smoothly and as intended again.

Thank you very much for your time and support.

Best, Bruno

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/uploads/default/original/3X/7/c/7c8792f649eeb921c5d2b4c41564ffa873d9a2b8.png) [@system](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-version-6-compatibility-with-raspberry-pi-3/77391/7 "2025-03-27T14:48:21Z")

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